Thursday, August 9, 2012

United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Although I am busy with study I still love physical work and today I helped build a retaining wall. Lots of shovelling - great for the body and soul.TangataWhenua.com is an awesome site with many great articles and interaction. I just noticed this scorecard and I'm going to copy it here - hopefully everyones cool with that.It is the United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous
Peoples today - I wasn't aware of that.

The Mana Movement have released a scorecard measuring the New Zealand government’s three-year progress against the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Zero indeed and that's being optimistic.

Metiria Turei, co-leader of the Greens has also issued a statement to the government today. It is a powerful statement that demands action from the key government.

... the Key Government needs to honour its commitments under the Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) and agree to negotiate with
the pan-Maori group on water rights

Maori have agreed to create a single forum to negotiate water rights
with the Government. John Key has so far not acknowledged this new
pan-Maori group and has stated that the Crown will negotiate with Maori
iwi by iwi.

The right of indigenous people "to participate in decision-making in
matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen
by themselves in accordance with their own procedures" is guaranteed in
the DRIP. The Key Government endorsed the DRIP in 2010.

"If the international commitments that New Zealand signs up to are to
have any meaning, then the Government must honour them at all times,
not just when it is convenient," said Mrs Turei.

This is really great to hear. One of the best qualities of The Greens for me is their commitment to tino rangatiratanga.Hattip TangataWhenua.com